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What is a Valiant 32?

Posted by Norman Ralph | Boat Reviews , Monohull

Jeanette Ralph enjoys her gorgeous “new” boat and the prospect of retiring in style

The Valiant 32 was designed by Bob Perry as a smaller version of the successful Valiant 40. In the 1970s, a 30- to 35-foot boat was considered the optimum-size boat for a cruising couple. In response to this demand, the Valiant 32 was produced. About 67 were built in the late 1970s and early ’80s. The boat is 32 feet on deck with a waterline length of 26 feet. The beam is 10 feet 5 inches, and displacement is 11,800 pounds. Ballast is 4,700 pounds, and the displacement-to-length ratio is 283. This translates into a boat that is moderate in displacement, yet extremely seaworthy. It has the traditional Valiant lines with the canoe stern and moderate flare at the bow. The underbody features a modified fin keel with external ballast and a skeg-hung rudder. The hull is laid up in solid laminate, and the deck and cabintop is balsa-cored.

The interior, as you come down the companionway steps, has a U-shaped galley to port with a forward-facing navigation station to starboard and a quarterberth aft. Forward of the galley and nav station, are opposing settees with a drop-leaf table around the keel-stepped mast. The port settee slides out to make a small double/twin bed. There is storage behind and under the settees. Farther forward, the head is to port with a large hanging locker to starboard. The door to the head swings aft and will latch to the hanging locker to give a privacy area for the V-berth. Our boat has an optional large hanging wet locker with a storage shelf aft, instead of the quarterberth. We don’t miss the quarterberth, and lee cloths on the starboard settee work very well for a sea berth. Others have commented that they ended up with their quarterberth being used as a storage area anyway.

The boat is powered by a 4-cylinder 25-hp, L-25 Westerbeke diesel. Ours has never given us any problems. Tankage is 48 gallons of fuel and 80 gallons of water. The engine burns a half gallon an hour at hull speed which translates into a cruising range under power of more than 500 miles.

Most Valiant 32s are cutter rigged, which breaks the sail area down into an easily managed sail plan. With the mast stepped aft for the inner forestay, the boat develops weather helm when winds exceed 15 knots, but with the first reef in the main, it balances nicely. The boat is a dry boat and sails best with the rubrail (about 10 inches below the caprail) out of the water. We have sailed in winds higher than 35 knots with two reefs in the main while remaining fairly comfortable and never feeling out of control. The standing rigging is very substantial for a 32-foot boat. The headstay, backstay, and uppers are 5/16-inch 1×19 and the lowers, inter-forestay, and intermediate backstays are 1/4-inch 1×19. A few late V-32s were sloop-rigged with the mast stepped farther forward. This was in part to reduce the weather helm and to cut production costs. We have installed a large “pelican hook” on our inner forestay. For local light-wind sailing, we tie the inner-forestay and staysail in its bag back by the mast and sail the big genoa as a sloop.

In overall appearance, the Valiant 32 is similar to the Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34. Both boats have canoe sterns, but the form varies. The Valiant’s stern is fuller and somewhat broader in the “hips,” while the Crealock’s stern is more pointed. While the Crealock 34 is two feet longer on deck, both boats have the same waterline length and beam. Displacement is similar. Interior layouts are practically identical.

Since Rich Worstell, the present owner of Valiant Yachts, moved production to Texas in the early 1980s, the Valiant 32 has not been in production.

Article taken from Good Old Boat magazine: Volume 2, Number 2, March/April 1999.

About The Author

Norman Ralph

A 1988 trip to the Gulf Coast exposed Norman and his wife, Jeanette, to year-round sailing and sowed the seeds that initiated early retirement and a move to Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. Norman is able to rest in peace knowing his boat won't leak (at the mast anyway).

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• Sailboat Guide

Valiant 32 is a 31 ′ 11 ″ / 9.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Robert Perry and built by Uniflite Inc. starting in 1976.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Some later boats came with a sloop rig (as with drawing shown here) with the mast moved forward.

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Sail monohulls 30ft > 35ft,        valiant boats for sale, valiant 32 boats for sale.

VALIANT 32 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of VALIANT 32. Built by Uniflite Inc. (USA) and designed by Robert Perry, the boat was first built in 1976. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 9.75. Its sail area/displacement ratio 16.05. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Westerbeke, runs on Diesel.

VALIANT 32 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about VALIANT 32 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, accomodations, contributions, who designed the valiant 32.

VALIANT 32 was designed by Robert Perry.

Who builds VALIANT 32?

VALIANT 32 is built by Uniflite Inc. (USA).

When was VALIANT 32 first built?

VALIANT 32 was first built in 1976.

How long is VALIANT 32?

VALIANT 32 is 7.92 m in length.

What is mast height on VALIANT 32?

VALIANT 32 has a mast height of 11.28 m.

Member Boats at HarborMoor

The Valiant 32 is a 32.0ft cutter designed by Robert Perry and built in fiberglass by Uniflite Inc. (USA) since 1976.

65 units have been built..

The Valiant 32 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a short water supply range.

Valiant 32 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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32' valiant cutter.

LOBSTER BOATS - LOBSTER PERMITS WANTED - WE HAVE BUYERS - Call Hal 207-594-2201 - Call Dave 207-390-5146

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Boats for Sale

32' valiant 32 sloop.

ARCHIVED: This is a previously listed vessel and is no longer offered for sale If you would like assistance locating a similar vessel, Click Here to contact the listing broker.

       "The Valiant 32 draws upon the experience of the famous Valiant 40, voted by readers of SAIL Magazine as the "Cruising Boat of the Decade." The 32 is an easily handled yacht--ideal for a cruising couple--with the same fin keel and skeg mounted rudder design that has made the Valiant 40 so fast and responsive. The canoe stern, excellent in confused or following seas, has been retained; high bulwarks forward and relatively flared bow keep the 32 dry and comfortable.... The Valiant 32 is custom finished in teak and ash with the discerning yachtsman's attention to detail and handcrafted feel of a traditional sailing yacht. She is every inch a well-thought-out, comfortable and functional passage-maker." - Valiant Yachts

     As soon as you step on "Morning Star" you can tell that she has been well cared for and lovingly maintained. The first thing that came to mind was the old adage that if you take care of a yacht she will take care of you. "Morning Star" looks to have enjoyed that type of arrangement with her current owner and has benefited greatly from this. Ready to go cruising again this yacht offers fantastic value for a capable, well designed and properly built blue-water cruising yacht.

• Specifications
• Description

     Entering the main cabin from the companionway you will find to starboard a forward facing navigation station with quarter berth aft. Storage lockers below and outboard of navigation station and quarter berth.  Between the quarter berth and companionway, a removable wet locker gives added engine access.  A cubby locker is located above the wet locker for added storage.  To port, the u-shaped galley is well-equipped for cooking and sea safety with good storage for food and utensils. 

     The main cabin has 6’4” settees, port and starboard, with ample storage above, behind, and beneath.  The port settee pulls out to a generous berth. A drop-leaf dinette table sits between the settees and sits just aft of the mast. Standing headroom of 6'3" throughout the cabin.     

     Moving forward to port is an enclosed head with pressurized hot/cold water and a fresh water foot pump. The head also features a stainless steel sink, handheld shower head, shower curtain with ceiling track, self-draining teak shower grate, and a large mirror.  Three lockers offer ample storage and the head door swings open to close off the forward cabin.     

     Forward of the head is a large double v-berth with shelf storage on both sides and a cubby locker below.  Additional forward lockers provide access to plumbing and anchor rode. Excellent cabin ventilation from two dorades, two large opening hatches, 8 opening, screened ports, and 3 cabin fans.  There are easy stow, canvas screens for hatches and companionway.  Moving aft, opposite the head is a hanging locker complete with storage shelves.

•   Harken jib furler (2013)
• Indalo cap shroud and backstay (2007)
• Lower shrouds replaced (2013)
• Strong Track installed on mast (2013)
• New MSP main (2013) with lazy jacks
• 80% storm (1993)
• 105% jib  (1995)
• 135% genoa (original)
• Asymmetrical cruising chute with ATN tacker (2000)
• Trysail with track (2000)
• Mast-stowed whisker pole (2000)
• Hall Quik Vang model B-18 (2000)
• Maxwell winch 2- 25STB (2) speed
• Maxwell winch self-tail 2-22A (2) speed mast/halyards
• Harken #6 winch on boom for reefing (2002)
• Nexus autopilot with remote (new control head 2012)
• Garmin GPS Map 192C (2006)
• Furuno 1715 radar (2013)
• Icom VHF with remote mic 2004 (mic 2011)
• Icom M710RT SSB radio
• Nexus speed and depth
• Datamarine wind
• Monitor windvane and spares 
• Keel bolts inspected and tightened (2013)
• Joint between ballast and keelson cleaned, faired, primed, rebedded and repainted (2013)
• Lewmar windlass with cockpit switch (2006)
• Toe rail caulked (2014)
• Lifelines - bare wire (2013)
• 35 lb CQR with 215 ft G4 Hi Test chain (2000)
• LED tricolor/anchor light (2014)
• Yanmar 3YM30/KM3V (2004)
• Flex-O-Fold 3-blade prop (2007)
• Racor 500FG fuel filter
• Dripless Stuffing Box WPT10146 (New in 2007 and re-packed 2013)
• Cutlass bearing (2008)
• 106 amp dual foot alternator (2006)
• True Charge multi-stage battery charger
• 360AH house bank
• Engine start battery (8G27/2007)
• Ample Technology eliminator
• Victron energy monitor (2014)
• Guest galvanic isolator (2014)
• ProStar solar controller for (1) 85watt solar panel and (2) 50 watt panels with mounts and stow bags (2002)
• Statpower Portawattz 300 inverter (2002)
• Shore power inlet and cord
• Edson steering (assembly replaced 2004)
• Ritchie compass (re-built by factory 2004)
• Dodger and bimini with sunshades (2008)
• Cockpit cushions
• Large port locker; two aft lockers for propane and steering quadrant access
•   (2) stainless water tanks 63 gallons
• Atwood 110 volt and engine heated 5 gallon water heater
• Rule 1500/2000 pump
• Par/Jabsco pump (2007)
• Guzzler manual pump (valves 2011)
• Aqualarm smart bilge pump switch system
• Seaward Hillerange gimbaled propane stove with (3) burners, oven and broiler
• (2) Propane tanks in aft cockpit locker
• Adler/Barbour refrigerator/freezer (water cooling pump 2013)
• Galley faucet (2013)
• Blaster water pressure pump (2010)
• Foot pumps for fresh water in galley and head (2000)
• Hella fans: (1) Turbo and (2) ceiling
• Bimini sun shades double as lee cloths
• Clock/Barometer
• Head Lavac (valves/hoses 2012)
• Nauta flexible holding tank 14.5 gallon
• Shower curtain and hand held shower head
• Emergency tiller in aft starboard cockpit locker
• Canvas screens for hatches and companionway
• (3) Fire Extinguishers (2013)
• Winslow liferaft not certified

      “Morning Star” is a very versatile yacht as she is a great day sailor as well as a trusted cruiser! Amazing, fun boat to day sail in any conditions, single handed, with a crowd of sailors or non-sailors. At home in Penobscot Bay, Downeast Maine, and SF Bay!

     She's been a great cruiser from San Francisco to Maine: she's comfortable, steady and secure in peaceful or rolly anchorages, in light air or squalls, in strong headwinds and rough seas west of Cuba, and sailing fast downwind across the Gulf of Maine with a following sea. Ease of use (equipment, systems and cockpit layout) for single or double handing.

     Safety, security built into design throughout. My favorite feature: in rough conditions going fore and aft, topside or below deck, there's always a handhold to grab

     Morning Star is a sloop, which (I think) was a late design change. It's a simpler design and layout for this size boat. She also has a quarter berth. Visitors often comment that she's a "big 32", maybe the headroom and open layout?

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Review of Valiant 32

Basic specs..

The boat is typically equipped with a Westerbeke diesel engine.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.8 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Valiant 32 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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Valiant 32 Liveaboard/Cruiser Thoughts

• Add to quote
• Well built and sturdy
• Respected Bob Perry design
• Fin Keel/Skeg Rudder
• Canoe Stern
• 1975-1981 boats were known to have bad blistering problems
• Relatively higher displacement makes her a bit slow

Yep, a bit slow but very stiff. Very strong hull and rig. Outside ballast. But four people for a week or maybe longer. Ugh. I get tired of myself when I go cruising by myself.  

Wow - thanks for the reply Bob! We posted this on the Cruisers Forum too and a gentleman wrote back, ""You might ask Bob Perry himself about this boat. I once heard him say (during a presentation at Passage Yachts in the SF Bay area) that the V-32 was one design that he was not happy with. This was many years ago, and his opinion may have changed over time...." Any thoughts on this? We love everything we've seen about the Valiant 32 and it appears to be one of the best boats for our needs in our price range. Any other other considerations in the V32 design that you've seen through the years would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!  

Katie: I have strong opinions and I hold my own designs to high standards. Sometimes a boat is less than what I hoped it would be in terms of performance. I think the V-32 sufferred by trying to be a mini Valiant 40. The Valiant group was determined that the V-32 have all the features of the V-40. I would have preferred a sloop rig on a boat that size. The V-32 has a bit too much helm for me and a bowsprit has been added to a few with good results. You should go to my web site and read about consultation.  

Thanks so very much for your response, Bob. We feel very fortunate to discuss a boat's qualities with the designer. We will certainly look into your consulting, yet with our slim budget we may be on our own. We've just found out that the V32 we were looking at was damaged in a hurricane in 2003, hence the price within our budget! So, we're still gathering more information in context of the damage and repairs made. Thanks again and we'll be watching your blog as well!  

My 30' is about perfect for one, though my gal lived on her with me for the past two months and we were fine with 'personal space.' But we both love to fish/grill out/enjoy the same things so the only 'personal space' time was ehhh uhhh errrr special time if you will. though for full time live aboard w/two i would be thinking more in the 40' range... ie cheoy lee 41' offshore or morgan 38 kinda room. four four i have to say i think that a 32 would get very tight Bob, that was your 41 cheoy offshore i had the pleasure to climb around? lots of teak, well laid out cozy cabin? that is one hell of a boat...  

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The Best Sailboats for the High Seas?

At the St. Petersburg Boat Show month last month, I had the pleasure of seeing delivery skipper and author John Kretschmers presentation on what he called sailboats for a serious ocean. I have reservations about any ideal boat list, but Kretschmer, who reviews boats for Sail Magazine and whose most recent book Sailing a Serious Ocean is available in our online bookstore , has the ideal background for this sort of work, and a list like this is undeniably helpful for wannabe cruisers who need a place to start their search.

I certainly wouldnt limit my search to boats on such a list, but by paying careful attention to the pros and cons of each, you can find something that suits your own aspirations.

Here are the boats Kretschmer suggests: Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privelege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and the Sundeer 60/64. For a brief capsule summary of each, be sure to check out his website.

The list is hardly definitive. There are plenty of good boats that arent featured, and some of these would be ill-matched for the wrong sailor-Kretschmer clearly pointed this out during his talk. I like how the list presents a good cross-section of the various shapes and sizes for a boat in this category. For example, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashews Sundeer 60, boats that, notwithstanding their successful record at sea, fill an outlying niche.

If I were going to expand the list, one of the heavier-displacement microcruisers like those I blogged about would be a nice addition. Although I would be wary of promoting even the most formidable of this breed as well-suited for a serious ocean, John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions includes one of them, the Dana 24, on his own list of recommend cruising boats . Neales much broader list of boats is accompanied by a very helpful discussion of design elements to consider.

What got me thinking about formidable cruising boats was our series of reports o n sailboat construction , focusing specifically on structural details. Although there are plenty of excellent coastal cruisers on the market, once you start talking about offshore duty, scan’tlings (the dimensions for structural components) take on far more importance.

A few years ago we touched on this subject in our Mailport section, encouraging readers to suggest their own nominees for a list of what we called at the time, tough boats, vessels that were built to take a beating, requiring minimal care and upkeep.

Here are some of the boats that were suggested from our readers: Mariner 36, Cal 34, Morgan 43, Swan 43, Bermuda 40, Island Packet 26, Mariner 47, LeComte Northeast 38, Westsail 32, Dana 24, J/35, and the CSY 44.

Id be interested in hearing of other nominees for this list, or other good resources for sailors looking for a short list of good offshore boats.

For those who are frustrated to find that their own ideal boat isn’t on anybodys list, I wouldnt be too miffed. The best line Ive heard in a while on this topic came from Steve Callahan, the author of the survival classic Adrift , who gave a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show . When I asked Steve, who has sailed extensively on both multihulls and monohulls, what type of boat he preferred, he said, quite seriously. Well, at the end of the day, the best cruising boat is the one that you are on.

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Interesting list. I am fond of Hylas of which you chose three models. However, I am suspect of their yard and construction techniques and do not have confidence that they are as strong as they are beautiful. Only one Hallberg-Rassy was selected, which is a far more robust and dry sailing boat than the Hylas. Passports make a good boat as does Cape Dory and several others on your list. Didn’t four sailors die on a Beneteau in 2018? Over all it is a decent list.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/04/25/last-pictures-doomed-yacht-cheeki-rafiki-sank-killing-four-british-sailors-7497805/

I believe this is the accident you’re talking about in which a Beneteau and it’s bolted on keel parted company.

Almost all of the sailing clubs in San Diego rent Beneteaus out. They are a decent coastal sailboat. I have a couple friends who have even made the crossing to Maui in them..not me, not ever. I consider them a living room boat. Having said that, I am certainly no expert so its just my opinion. If I am crossing an ocean I want a capable kindly strong boat with redundancy built into critical systems.

Curious to think what people think about the early 70s Swan 43 as a cruising boat for a couple with occasional guests for a round the world trip? I have an S&S 30 which is too small but I do have some bias towards their designs. Add a watermaker and some power generation and off you go… Any thoughts?

Are Motor Sailors like the Nauticats or Fishers ocean worthy ( if their pilot house windows and sliding doors are lifeboatified ? )

Walt Schulz’s Shannon 43 is a beautiful, sea kindly, comfortable and sturdy bluewater boat. Walt had not only the ICW and Bahamas in mind when he designed and built 52 of them. He designed for ocean cruising. He believes his boats should outlive him and still sailing for generations. We sailed the Chesapeake, Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific to Australia on a Shannon 43 ketch. She took great care of us and is still turning heads.

Great article! John Kretchmer is one of my fave modern day sailors. While there is only one Crealock design on John’s list, and the Dana is added on John Neale’s list, I was surprised not to see a Crealock/ Pacific Seacraft 37 mentioned. But there are so many great serious off shore boats, it’s hard to narrow it down to 10. Here’s a few to think about. Cape George Cutter 36. Biscay 36, tradewind 35, Rustler 36, Nicholson 31 (never talked about) and 32. Seldom seen on top 10 lists, but great boats. Thanks for the article.

Great comment and interesting to note that the first four of your additions are those currently entered in the 2022 Golden Globe Race – kind of the definition of a blue water boat.

Hey! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|

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